DIPHYLLOBOTHRIASIS OF INTRODUCED SALMONIDS IN THE NAHUEL-HUAPI-NATIONAL-PARK-AND-RESERVE, ARGENTINA - MORPHOLOGY OF PLEROCERCOIDS

Plerocercoids of Diphyllobothrium spp. from Oncorhynchus mykiss, Salvelinus fontinalis and Salmo trutta fario collected in the south of Argentina were studied. Differences were observed at the level of external morphology and histology: form of the body, form of the scolex, microtriches, parenchymal longitudinal musculature, parenchymal transverse muscles and frontal glands. These results allowed us to separate them as type "a" and type "b". The hypothesis is that type "a" is D. latum and type "b" is D. dendriticum. Preliminary data from experimental infections of Mesocricetus auratus support this hypothesis.